Finally she found Anna’s mobile. She made sure that the ringer was turned off, but then realized that she didn’t know the four-digit code. All she could do was guess. She tapped in Anna’s birth date. The word ‘error’ appeared on the display, and she silently swore. Anna might not have changed the code that came with the phone, but she couldn’t think about that. She had two more attempts. Erica thought for a moment and then tried Adrian’s birthday. ‘Error’ again. Then she had an idea. There was one other date that was significant in Anna’s life: the fateful day when Lucas died. Erica tapped in those four digits, and a green light miraculously welcomed her into the phone’s world.
She glanced at Gösta, who sighed with relief. She had to act fast. Tobias could wake up at any moment. Thank God she and Anna had the same type of phone, so she easily located the menu. She began typing a text message, brief but with enough information so that Patrik would understand the danger. Tobias stirred restlessly, and just as she was about to send the message, she stopped and added a few more recipients. If Patrik didn’t see it at once, someone else would and take action. She pressed the ‘send’ button and then put the bag back where she’d found it. She hid the mobile under her right thigh so she could get to it if necessary, but Tobias wouldn’t be able to see it when he awoke. Now all they could do was wait.
Kjell leaned against the car, staring at one of the police vehicles as it drove off. The raid had failed. They had only John Holm’s wife in the back seat.
‘Where the hell is John?’
The area surrounding the house was still bustling with activity. The police were checking every nook and cranny, and the Expressen photographer was frantically trying to capture it all. He wasn’t allowed to get too close, but with the lens he had at his disposal, that didn’t bother him.
‘Do you think he fled the country?’ said Sven Niklasson. Sitting in Kjell’s car, he’d already written the first version of his article, which he’d sent off to his editor.
Kjell knew that he too should be writing up his report. In fact, he should already be on his way over to the Bohusläningen office, where he would no doubt be heralded as the hero of the day. When he rang to tell them what had happened, the editor-in-chief had cheered so loudly that he nearly burst Kjell’s eardrum. But he didn’t want to leave until he’d found out where Holm had gone.
‘No, I don’t think he would leave without Liv. And she seemed surprised to see the police. If she didn’t know about it, then John didn’t either. They’re said to be a very tight team.’
‘But in a small town like this, rumours must spread faster than the wind, so even if he hadn’t already taken off, there’s a big risk he’ll do that now.’ Sven turned to gaze at the house with a grim expression.
‘Hmm…’ said Kjell, not really paying attention. In his mind he went over everything he knew about Holm, speculating where he might have gone. The police had already checked the boathouse without finding him there.
‘Have you heard anything more about how things went in Stockholm?’ asked Kjell.
‘For once the Säpo security forces and the police seem to have successfully collaborated, and the raid went off like clockwork. All of the responsible parties were taken into custody without incident. Those guys aren’t so tough when the shit hits the fan.’
‘I guess not.’ Kjell was thinking about the battle cries that would fill the newspapers over the next few days. And not just in Sweden; the rest of the world would once again voice incredulity that something like this could happen in Sweden, the country that so many people regarded as almost absurdly orderly.
His mobile rang.
‘Hi, Rolf… Well, there’s a bit of confusion here. They don’t know where Holm is… What did you say? Gunshots? Okay, we’ll be right over.’ He ended the conversation and nodded to Sven. ‘Hop in. There are reports of gunshots at Leon Kreutz’s house. Let’s go.’
‘Leon Kreutz?’
‘One of the boys who went to school with Holm on Valö.’
‘I don’t know. Holm might turn up here at any moment.’
Kjell leaned his arm on the roof of the car and looked at Sven.
‘Don’t ask me why, but I think Holm is at Kreutz’s house. So make up your mind. Are you coming with me or not? The Tanum police are already there.’
Sven opened the passenger door and got in. Kjell got behind the wheel, slammed the door, and drove off. He knew he was right. The boys from Valö had been hiding something, and now it was going to be revealed. He definitely didn’t want to miss it when the news exploded.
VALÖ 1974
Inez felt as if someone was always watching her. That was the only way she could describe it. She’d had that feeling ever since the morning when her mother was found dead. Nobody knew why Laura had gone outside in the middle of that cold November night. The doctor who came to examine her body concluded that her heart had simply given out. He had warned her that something like that could happen.
But Inez had her doubts. Something changed in the house after Laura died, and she could feel it, no matter where she was. Rune had become even more aloof and stern, and Annelie and Claes started defying her more openly. It was as if Rune wasn’t paying attention, and that made them bolder.
At night Inez could hear crying in the boys’ dormitory. Not loud, barely audible in fact. Someone seemed to be doing his best to muffle his sobs.
She was scared. It had taken several months for her to identify the emotion she had long been trying to put into words. Something was terribly wrong. They were all circling around it, yet she knew that if she mentioned her concern to Rune, he would merely grunt dismissively. But she could tell that he too was aware that things were not as they should be.
Fatigue was also taking its toll on her. She was worn out from all the work she did in the school in addition to caring for Ebba, and it was proving to be such a strain to keep silent about something that was supposed to remain a secret.
‘Mammaaaaa,’ whined Ebba from her playpen. She was holding on to the railing, her eyes fixed on her mother.
Inez ignored her. She had no energy left. The child demanded so much that she simply couldn’t give her, and besides, she was a constant reminder of Rune. Ebba’s nose and mouth were just like Rune’s, and that made it hard for Inez to love the little girl. Inez tended to her needs, changing her nappies, feeding her, holding her and comforting her, but that was as much as she could do. Fear occupied too great a place in her heart.
Fortunately there was something else. Something that gave her the strength to hold out a little longer, that prevented her from running away, taking the boat to the mainland and leaving everything behind. In those dark hours when she toyed with the idea of fleeing, she never dared ask herself whether she would take Ebba along. She wasn’t sure that she wanted to know the answer.
‘Can I pick her up?’ Johan’s voice made Inez jump. She hadn’t heard him come into the laundry room where she was folding sheets.